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Cyclist who headbutted pedestrian after jumping red light hunted by City of London Police +video

Incident happened on Farringdon Road last month and left victim needing stitches

City of London Police have appealed for help in tracking down a cyclist who rode through a red light then headbutted a pedestrian who had been crossing Farringdon Road on 22 August 2019 at around 13:45.

Officers say that after nearly colliding with the pedestrian, a 57-year-old man, the cyclist dismounted and headbutted him. The pedestrian needed stitches in a wound above his eye and also sustained ligament damage to his arm due to falling to the ground.

PC Fisk of City of London Police said: “We are asking the public to help us identify this cyclist, whose needlessly violent actions has left a member of the public with some nasty injuries.

“If anyone has any information about the man who carried out this assault, please contact us. He is described as a white man in his 40s, around 5ft 10, of medium build, with short greying hair.”

Police can be contacted on 020 7601 2115 quoting reference 19*446160. Alternatively, anyone with information can contact the charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Besides the video above, police also issued three still images captured by CCTV of the suspect.

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Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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38 comments

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grumpyoldcyclist | 4 years ago
1 like

Interesting the RLJ bit, is there any evidence that the lights showing toward the direction the cyclist approached from are on red/working? I've filmed red light jumping by drivers on a number of occasions, but been told by the police (Cheshire) that unless two red lights are clearly visible on the footage then there is insufficient evidence to proceed with a prosecution.

That said, the headbutt is unacceptable and I hope they catch the thug and he is jailed

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ktache | 4 years ago
1 like

Xenophon2, in the UK there is no jaywalking, and even on the red man at a pedestrian crossing it is not against the law to cross.

Oddly at a shared or Toucan crossing it is against the law for a cyclist to cross when being shown a red bicycle, though a lot of the toucans I use the bike bit has been bolted on and  there is only a green bicycle symbol, so if there is no motor vehicles thundering through I will cross on the red man.

I believe Legs is in a cyclist heaven, and I'm guessing when he's settled he will tell us how wonderful it really is.

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Rick_Rude | 4 years ago
4 likes

Is this one of those 'what colour is the dress?' things? Looks like the ped got clipped and remonstrated, only to get headbutted.

At least we can now put a face to Legs11 posts. The ped was lucky he didn't get a concrete slab across the dome. 

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HoarseMann replied to Rick_Rude | 4 years ago
2 likes

Rick_Rude wrote:

Is this one of those 'what colour is the dress?' things? Looks like the ped got clipped and remonstrated, only to get headbutted.

At least we can now put a face to Legs11 posts. The ped was lucky he didn't get a concrete slab across the dome. 

I think Legs11 abandoned Blighty for a foreign cycling utopia, at least that’s his alibi.

In any case, as a stickler for the rules, I'm sure if it was him he would have ensured his own forehead got the paving slab treatment.

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Shades | 4 years ago
5 likes

He was actually on foot when he headbutted him; always important for the DM to get the 'cyclist' word in to give their readers their 'daily hate'.  He was clearly in the wrong but 'switched around'; motorist does close pass on cyclist, cyclist shouts/gesticulates, motorist 'brake checks' cyclist, stops, gets out, pushes cyclist over, drives off and........nothing happens.  Anyway, if I'm feeling like I'm becoming a bit too right wing I just need to click on the DM readers comments to see that I'm not; actually the Daily Telegraph readers comments are darn right scary!

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Oldfatgit | 4 years ago
3 likes

Cunt on a bike is still a cunt.

There is no excuse for RLJ -- ever. 

To RLJ, cause someone else  to take evasive action, then assault a ped who had every right to be there, shows exactly what a cunt they are and is indefensible.

 

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hawkinspeter replied to Oldfatgit | 4 years ago
5 likes

Oldfatgit wrote:

Cunt on a bike is still a cunt.

There is no excuse for RLJ -- ever. 

To RLJ, cause someone else  to take evasive action, then assault a ped who had every right to be there, shows exactly what a cunt they are and is indefensible.

 

I've seen ambulances, police cars and fire engines jump through red lights - I'd presume they had a reasonable excuse. I've also seen lots of cars turn at red lights in other countries where that manoeuvre is allowed.

However, headbutting is not a reasonable action, so I do agree with your assessment of that cyclist's behaviour.

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Xenophon2 replied to hawkinspeter | 4 years ago
2 likes

hawkinspeter wrote:

 

I've seen ambulances, police cars and fire engines jump through red lights - I'd presume they had a reasonable excuse. I've also seen lots of cars turn at red lights in other countries where that manoeuvre is allowed.

However, headbutting is not a reasonable action, so I do agree with your assessment of that cyclist's behaviour.

Ambulances, police cars and fire engines may run a red light provided they don't endanger other road users and if running lights and siren.  The others are supposed to stop and give way to them.  At least where I live.  

Running a red light, be it as a cyclist, jaywalker or in a car is neither legal (unless the law provides for a system such as 'free right turn on red') nor reasonable.  Stopping to headbutt a pedestrian who had the audacity to get in his way is beyond the pale.  I hope they catch him.  Thug on a bike is still a thug.

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yupiteru replied to Oldfatgit | 4 years ago
4 likes

Oldfatgit wrote:

Cunt on a bike is still a cunt.

There is no excuse for RLJ -- ever. 

To RLJ, cause someone else  to take evasive action, then assault a ped who had every right to be there, shows exactly what a cunt they are and is indefensible.

 

 

I tend to agree and never RLJ myself, but I can honestly say that every day that I am on my bike or on foot I can be certain to see motorists going through red on pedestrian crossing lights and tearing at high speed through 'junction' lights that are also on red.  I am not exagerating it is literally everytime I am out.

I have spoken to the local Police about this and they do not seem to be interested unless someone is injured.

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HoarseMann | 4 years ago
11 likes

Guy on the bike is an idiot. Blew through a red light - totally at fault. Absolutely disgusting behaviour assaulting the pedestrian.

He need to be caught and punished. I would like to see the same robust response from the police when cyclists are assaulted.

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the little onion | 4 years ago
12 likes

A few months ago, whilst cycling, I was victim of an unprovoked assault by a pedestrian who was shouting abuse about bloody cyclists. I now have a small but permanent facial scar. Witnesses caught the assault on camera. Police put out images of the perpetrator, which were posted on local social media groups.

 

Obviously my case wasn't national news. After all, I'm only a cyclist. And the police haven't put any further effort into catching my assailant

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Mungecrundle | 4 years ago
15 likes

Visit any A&E department, pretty much any evening and you will find people sporting injuries caused by a thug with a bad temper and willing to use physical assault as the first resort to settle the slightest perceived insult. That this particular scumbag was riding a bicycle is about as material to the case as the brand of shoes he was wearing at the time. It certainly lends no support to any argument about barcoding and registering cyclists in general.

Wishing the injured ped a swift and full recovery.

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quiff replied to Mungecrundle | 4 years ago
2 likes

Mungecrundle wrote:

Visit any A&E department, pretty much any evening and you will find people sporting injuries caused by a thug with a bad temper and willing to use physical assault as the first resort to settle the slightest perceived insult. That this particular scumbag was riding a bicycle is about as material to the case as the brand of shoes he was wearing at the time...

Indeed. I saw something similar (but less serious) yesterday - another cyclist going the opposite way to me did a U-turn right in front of me, then chased down a couple of kids on the pavement. I didn't see what set him off, but I can't imagine they did anything more than throw a minor insult at him as he passed.   

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JohnnyEnglish | 4 years ago
6 likes

Sorry to say it, but with the aggression I’ve seen in some of this website’s comments I’d put odds on the culprit being a road.cc forum member...

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Organon replied to JohnnyEnglish | 4 years ago
5 likes

JohnnyEnglish wrote:

Sorry to say it, but with the aggression I’ve seen in some of this website’s comments I’d put odds on the culprit being a road.cc forum member...

He's 'on holiday.'

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Robert Hardy | 4 years ago
15 likes

I can't believe some of the comments here, the man nearly kno ks the poor pedestrian over, who rather adroitly dodges the impact, then assaults him with extreme violence. There is nothing intrinsically virtuous about riding a bike and unfortunately some cyclists happen to be of the same self entitled boorish and violent disposition as the worst of motorists, probably often one and the same. I hope the police rapidly find this thug and the courts send him down for a good stretch. Probably best to ban him from driving too, clearly mentally unfit for the responsibity.

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ChrisB200SX | 4 years ago
1 like

It would appear the thug on a bike was assaulted by the pedestrian and then retaliated. While a head butt is nasty, when did it become OK to whack a cyclist as they are passing?! This seems similarly as dangerous as headbutting someone.

(If it is now OK to assault someone for going through a red-light then there are a lot of drivers who would be wise to change their behaviour!)

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Htc replied to ChrisB200SX | 4 years ago
6 likes

ChrisB200SX wrote:

It would appear the thug on a bike was assaulted by the pedestrian and then retaliated. While a head butt is nasty, when did it become OK to whack a cyclist as they are passing?! This seems similarly as dangerous as headbutting someone.

(If it is now OK to assault someone for going through a red-light then there are a lot of drivers who would be wise to change their behaviour!)

You are having a laugh? If a driver had driven through a red at you and you had shouted and waved a hand at them or hit their car and they then proceeded to run you over what you say? Fair enough?!

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ChrisB200SX replied to Htc | 4 years ago
3 likes

Htc wrote:

ChrisB200SX wrote:

It would appear the thug on a bike was assaulted by the pedestrian and then retaliated. While a head butt is nasty, when did it become OK to whack a cyclist as they are passing?! This seems similarly as dangerous as headbutting someone.

(If it is now OK to assault someone for going through a red-light then there are a lot of drivers who would be wise to change their behaviour!)

You are having a laugh? If a driver had driven through a red at you and you had shouted and waved a hand at them or hit their car and they then proceeded to run you over what you say? Fair enough?!

False equivalency, on two counts.

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Captain Badger replied to ChrisB200SX | 4 years ago
11 likes

ChrisB200SX wrote:

It would appear the thug on a bike was assaulted by the pedestrian and then retaliated. While a head butt is nasty, when did it become OK to whack a cyclist as they are passing?! This seems similarly as dangerous as headbutting someone.

(If it is now OK to assault someone for going through a red-light then there are a lot of drivers who would be wise to change their behaviour!)

First, hope the ped will make a swift recovery, this was a horrible thing to happen

2nd, pLease telling me you are trying to be ironic. Have you even seen the vid?

The guy on the bike flew through, and only didn't collide cos the ped shimmied round him raising his arm. 

Note also that the oncoming traffic had stopped, cos the ped light was green.  Even if the ped was on a red, this was unprovoked assault, pure and simple.

We can all get a bit tribal at times, but no way this tit is included in mine. 

 

 

 

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brooksby replied to ChrisB200SX | 4 years ago
6 likes

ChrisB200SX wrote:

It would appear the thug on a bike was assaulted by the pedestrian and then retaliated. While a head butt is nasty, when did it become OK to whack a cyclist as they are passing?! This seems similarly as dangerous as headbutting someone.

(If it is now OK to assault someone for going through a red-light then there are a lot of drivers who would be wise to change their behaviour!)

"Assaulted by the pedestrian"?

Are you sure, because to me it looked more like the cyclist 'clipped' the pedestrian's arm as he blew through allegedly through a red light.

Words were clearly exchanged, which we'll not hear because city cameras like that don't have sound.

Headbutting is not a reasonable response.  End of discussion.

 

(The more depressing thing for me was how quickly passing pedestrians put down their phones and rushed to the fallen man's aid  )

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ChrisB200SX replied to brooksby | 4 years ago
2 likes

brooksby wrote:

ChrisB200SX wrote:

It would appear the thug on a bike was assaulted by the pedestrian and then retaliated. While a head butt is nasty, when did it become OK to whack a cyclist as they are passing?! This seems similarly as dangerous as headbutting someone.

(If it is now OK to assault someone for going through a red-light then there are a lot of drivers who would be wise to change their behaviour!)

"Assaulted by the pedestrian"?

Are you sure, because to me it looked more like the cyclist 'clipped' the pedestrian's arm as he blew through allegedly through a red light.

Words were clearly exchanged, which we'll not hear because city cameras like that don't have sound.

Headbutting is not a reasonable response.  End of discussion.

 

(The more depressing thing for me was how quickly passing pedestrians put down their phones and rushed to the fallen man's aid  )

Quite sure. I've watched the video a number of times. I like to understand arguments from all sides, many people don't and just react to one partcular thing. Pedestrian is looking at the guy travelling by bike and sees what's coming, makes no attempt to avoid conflict and reduce danger either to himself, or the guy on a bike. The video pauses at just the point he deliberately raises his arm with intent to clip/hit/whatever the guy. Do you really think the guy jumped a red light just to then go back and headbutt someone... perhaps there was physical contact before that to provoke physical danger?

Guy on a bike is clearly an idiot, but he's not the first idiot in the video trying to hurt someone.

Deliberately hitting a moving cyclist is not a reasonable response. End of discussion.

Two bullying idiots causing a bigger problem when it could have just been one idiot jumping a red light and no-one getting hurt. Presumably the pedestrian was trying to teach him a lesson, much like a punishment pass, I wonder if the pedestrian is accustomed to doing that too?

Those who go looking for a fight usually find one.

Pretty sure every count of headbutting doesn't make the national news, but you know, it's a cyclist, so we must punish them!

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CroisDeBleurgh replied to ChrisB200SX | 4 years ago
3 likes
ChrisB200SX wrote:

It would appear the thug on a bike was assaulted by the pedestrian and then retaliated. While a head butt is nasty, when did it become OK to whack a cyclist as they are passing?! This seems similarly as dangerous as headbutting someone.

(If it is now OK to assault someone for going through a red-light then there are a lot of drivers who would be wise to change their behaviour!)

Perhaps the victim was merely putting out an arm in a defensive fashion to protect himself from what seemed like an imminent collision due to the speed and trajectory of the man on the bike, who was quite unexpectedly cycling through a red light?

I have done a similar thing as a ped, and if I rode at people in that way on my bike I would expect a similar defensive reaction (which is one reason I don't ride in that way).

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brooksby replied to CroisDeBleurgh | 4 years ago
2 likes

CroisDeBleurgh wrote:
ChrisB200SX wrote:

It would appear the thug on a bike was assaulted by the pedestrian and then retaliated. While a head butt is nasty, when did it become OK to whack a cyclist as they are passing?! This seems similarly as dangerous as headbutting someone.

(If it is now OK to assault someone for going through a red-light then there are a lot of drivers who would be wise to change their behaviour!)

Perhaps the victim was merely putting out an arm in a defensive fashion to protect himself from what seemed like an imminent collision due to the speed and trajectory of the man on the bike, who was quite unexpectedly cycling through a red light?

Yup: that was my interpretation.

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ChrisB200SX replied to CroisDeBleurgh | 4 years ago
0 likes

CroisDeBleurgh wrote:
ChrisB200SX wrote:

It would appear the thug on a bike was assaulted by the pedestrian and then retaliated. While a head butt is nasty, when did it become OK to whack a cyclist as they are passing?! This seems similarly as dangerous as headbutting someone.

(If it is now OK to assault someone for going through a red-light then there are a lot of drivers who would be wise to change their behaviour!)

Perhaps the victim was merely putting out an arm in a defensive fashion to protect himself from what seemed like an imminent collision due to the speed and trajectory of the man on the bike, who was quite unexpectedly cycling through a red light? I have done a similar thing as a ped, and if I rode at people in that way on my bike I would expect a similar defensive reaction (which is one reason I don't ride in that way).

Most pedestrians would stop walking towards the thing that was going to hit them rather than stick out an arm to strike it.

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AlsoSomniloquism replied to ChrisB200SX | 4 years ago
2 likes

ChrisB200SX wrote:

CroisDeBleurgh wrote:
ChrisB200SX wrote:

It would appear the thug on a bike was assaulted by the pedestrian and then retaliated. While a head butt is nasty, when did it become OK to whack a cyclist as they are passing?! This seems similarly as dangerous as headbutting someone.

(If it is now OK to assault someone for going through a red-light then there are a lot of drivers who would be wise to change their behaviour!)

Perhaps the victim was merely putting out an arm in a defensive fashion to protect himself from what seemed like an imminent collision due to the speed and trajectory of the man on the bike, who was quite unexpectedly cycling through a red light? I have done a similar thing as a ped, and if I rode at people in that way on my bike I would expect a similar defensive reaction (which is one reason I don't ride in that way).

Most pedestrians would stop walking towards the thing that was going to hit them rather than stick out an arm to strike it.

Most cyclists would try to avoid peds walking across the road anyway whether they had right of way or not. 

The only thing the ped did wrong was assume nothing would jump red lights and not look in the direction of traffic. At no point does he look in the direction of the cyclist so if he managed to punch him blindly, he should be in a boxing ring with those reactions. I'm with all the others that he actually is withdrawing the arm from being hit as as he withdraws it fast once he realises the bike if right on top of him. 

There was also no offensive / defensive position from the ped when the cyclist was approaching so he can't even claim he felt he was threatened then. Both actions show a sociopathic / psychopathic thug in action no matter what transport he was on. To me it is no different to when the jogger pushed the woman towards a bus because he couldn't be arsed to move 1 foot to the side. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuuHrVhykD4
 

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brooksby replied to ChrisB200SX | 4 years ago
0 likes

ChrisB200SX wrote:

CroisDeBleurgh wrote:
ChrisB200SX wrote:

It would appear the thug on a bike was assaulted by the pedestrian and then retaliated. While a head butt is nasty, when did it become OK to whack a cyclist as they are passing?! This seems similarly as dangerous as headbutting someone.

(If it is now OK to assault someone for going through a red-light then there are a lot of drivers who would be wise to change their behaviour!)

Perhaps the victim was merely putting out an arm in a defensive fashion to protect himself from what seemed like an imminent collision due to the speed and trajectory of the man on the bike, who was quite unexpectedly cycling through a red light? I have done a similar thing as a ped, and if I rode at people in that way on my bike I would expect a similar defensive reaction (which is one reason I don't ride in that way).

Most pedestrians would stop walking towards the thing that was going to hit them rather than stick out an arm to strike it.

Many people might fling an arm up involuntarily, to protect their face.

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Hirsute replied to brooksby | 4 years ago
0 likes

brooksby wrote:

Many people might fling an arm up involuntarily, to protect their face.

That's how I saw it too.

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peted76 | 4 years ago
6 likes

That's exactly the kind of cyclist who give us all a bad name.  No care for traffic laws or anyone else, an entitled cycling scumbag.

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ChrisB200SX replied to peted76 | 4 years ago
7 likes

peted76 wrote:

That's exactly the kind of cyclist who give us all a bad name.  No care for traffic laws or anyone else, an entitled cyclist scumbag.

Does the pedestrian give everyone who has ever walked a bad name?

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